BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.—A college student from Berrien Springs passed up a new car from her parents in order to create a scholarship for other working students through the Berrien Community Foundation.

When Callahan Stoub’s father, Eric, sold off part of the family business, he wanted to buy his daughter a more reliable car with four wheel drive that could handle Michigan winters.

Callahan got wind of his plan but had different ideas for what to do with the extra money.

“I called my dad and I said, ‘I don’t want a car but would you consider making a scholarship instead’ and he was speechless and told me ‘well let’s think about this,’ Callahan said.

Callahan wanted to create a scholarship for students like her; who worked through high school and continued to work through college.

“I think it’s a very mature idea that she had. That doesn’t surprise me looking back. Makes you feel like a super proud parent. She’s always thinking years ahead of her age,” Eric said.

Eric told Callahan to create a proposal for the idea and they would discuss it when she was home from Hillsdale College for the winter break.

“He really couldn’t say no because how do you say no to supporting other students in your community,” Callahan said.

Callahan founded the new Stoub Family Scholarship for Working Students through the Berrien Community Foundation after the winter break.

“I really didn’t need a new car, my car drives fine. It gets 40 miles per gallon and while it does have crank down windows, I just love my car. I knew I didn’t want to give it up and it all came together at the perfect time,” Callahan said.

Before graduating from Berrien Springs High School in 2017, Callahan received two scholarships from the Berrien Community Foundation.

Lisa Cripps-Downey, President of the Berrien Community Foundation didn’t think Callahan would have a plan to give back to her community only two years later.

“Quite honestly, when she first called and said she wanted to talk about starting a scholarship, I thought ‘oh, well, that’s great. I’ll talk with her. She probably doesn’t understand all that’s involved,’” Lisa said, “Well, have learned to never underestimate Callahan.”

So instead of a new car, Callahan and her family created the foundation’s first scholarship geared towards students with a work history.

For Callahan, the Stoub Family Scholarship for Working Students, is meant for students who are “caught in the middle.”

“I want it to go towards a student whose family is caught in the middle between the students who receive need based and the students who have no problem paying for school by themselves,” Callahan said.

The endowed scholarship will give $1,000 to a graduating high school senior or community college student starting at a four-year institution.

The student must show that they have a three-year work history during school or the summer as well as demonstrate financial need.

The first Stoub Family Scholarship will be awarded this spring for the fall 2019 semester.

All applications must be postmarked by March 4, 2019 in order to be considered.